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Canada elections

From Canadian Army to police, and now politics, Harjit Sajjan seems to be making all the right moves

Outside Punjab, Canada must be recognized as a major hub for Punjabis -even having its own `Little Punjab’, akin to the various `Chinatown’s or `Little Italy’s catering to immigrant populations. Punjabi is the sec ond largest immigrant language spoken in Canada, and 17.7% speak it in Vancouver alone. Therefore, it is no surprise that Pun jabis play an important role in Canadian life ­ including politics and being patriotic.

A prime example of this is Harjit Sajjan, who has served in both the Canadian military and as a police officer, and is now hoping to continue his service via politics. He is run ning as a candidate for the Liberal Party in Vancouver South in the upcoming elections.

On joining the military, Sajjan said: “I always wanted to serve my country and make a difference. There is no greater hon our than to serve the nation you call home.“

During this time, Sajjan was deployed in Kandahar, Afghanistan three times and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence there.

On inspiration for joining politics, “I have been very fortunate to gain considerable experience as a police officer and as a senior officer in the Canadian military. I have been taught by my parents to make a difference if you know you have the capacity and experience to do something. I have made a difference when I served in uniform and now I now want to use my experience and make a difference in politics as a Member of Parliament“.

Sajjan has clear intentions of what he plans to achieve should he be elected. “First and foremost, I want to be a clear voice and advocate for the people of Vancouver South.Second, I want to help design a policy that will create a better future for Canadians at home and enhance Canada’s reputation around the world. I want to provide more and better mentorships to our next generation. We must ensure that our youth have all the tools and support systems in place in order to excel across the globe. I also want to improve the lives of seniors. We need to ensure they are being well taken care of and have the right support to live out an enjoyable retirement,“ he said.

In this role, he will be a voice of all, but he does not forget his roots, hailing origi nally from Bombeli, Punjab. “The reaction from the Punjabi community and the wider communities has been humbling. They are very proud of what I have accomplished so for in my life and want me to continue my service to Canada as their next Member of Parliament. They know I have a history of getting things done and I will continue on the same path in politics,“ he said.

However, although being Punjabi in the western world can be beneficial in com munity support, it can munity support, it can cause difficulties, enticing racism from others.“I have gained much experience in the military and I owe my success largely to the training and mentorship I have received. Regrettably, there were significant racial issues in the early days that presented many barriers. However, my goal was to prove people wrong by performing my duties to a high standard and making a difference regardless of the job I was assigned. In time, my performance wiped away some of the ignorant views of the early days of my training. Now, the Canadian Military understands that diversity is an operational necessity,“ he added.

Indeed, Canada does lead a good example in this, others such as the USA could learn from it where turbans are still banned in the military. Sajjan firmly believes he is the right choice.

PROVEN RECORD

I have worn a uniform in the service of Canada since I graduated from high school. I have a proven track record of strong leadership and commitment to standing up for Canadian values. My goal has always been to serve Canada and now I wish to continue my service as a Member of Parliament for Vancouver South,“ concluded Sajjan, who hopes to show this to others before Election Day: October 19 2015.